Our Curriculum Intent
At Balcombe School, we believe that we are unique and no other school is quite like ours. A unique school requires a unique curriculum!
We have created a happy, safe and stimulating setting where children are motivated to learn together. We model and promote high expectations of ourselves and others, so that our children are able to encounter opportunities and challenges with resilience and self-confidence. We encourage respect for and curiosity about the world around us, enabling our pupils to make a positive contribution to it.
We are an inclusive school, valuing individuality and creativity. We understand that some pupils are more vulnerable than others and ensure that appropriate, child-centered support is given to ensure that barriers to learning are overcome.
The School’s foundations lie with our Christian belief that everything is embedded in “Love, Truth and Thankfulness” and through consultation with all stakeholders we have identified seven key values that underpin our curriculum. These values are as follows:
- Be respectful
Have respect for yourself and behave in a way that reflects love, truth and thankfulness. As a pupil in a Church of England Primary School, show respect to those around you and people of all faiths and none. Treat our school, the local environment and the world in which we live with respect.
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Be ambitious
- Be resilient
Understand that things won’t always be easy or work out the first time. Persevere even when the going gets tough and learn from your mistakes. If someone upsets you or you have an issue to overcome, dig deep and search for the strength to forgive and carry on.
- Be caring
Care for those around you as God cares for you. Be a kind friend to others and be forgiving. Put the needs of the group ahead of your own needs. Look after each other and our world.
- Be creative
Be your own person, think your own thoughts and make your own decisions. Believe that all problems can be overcome if you are determined to find an answer. Use your imagination.
- Be curious
Seek God, ask questions and reflect on the answers. Never be afraid to investigate and experiment. Take things apart. Have a go. Read.
- Be the best that you can be!
With these values and our school motto, “In all that we do, we are guided by God” at the heart of our curriculum, we believe that our pupils will flourish during their time here, enjoying , achieving and excelling in their learning journey.
Implementation
Our curriculum ensures our pupils’ learning covers all elements of the National Curriculum in an appropriate way, but we also have provision to teach them so much more. Our curriculum plans are reviewed and adapted on an annual basis, according to the changing composition of classes, community or national events and the availability of local resources. Our Nature Ninjas provision is an excellent example of what makes our curriculum unique and bespoke.
We have assigned the learning in each curriculum area to individual classes or year groups to ensure coverage and progression are thorough and expectations for learning clear. The unusual class organisation at Balcombe School, necessitates a cyclical curriculum and the provision of learning across two year groups and in some cases, key stages. To enable children to learn without repetition or omission, a detailed curriculum map has been designed. In Early Years and Key Stage 1, most learning is centred on a key topic or theme. As the children progress through Key Stage 2, strong cross-curricular links are made, however, a good deal of teaching is subject specific to maintain focus and rigour.
Impact
Our curriculum is broad and balanced, inspiring and challenging, is relevant to the needs of our pupils and fosters a lifelong love of learning. Our children are motivated and enthusiastic learners, both in school and at home, achieve high standards and leave us equipped with the skills needed to ensure success both academically and socially during the next part of their learning journey and beyond.